By: Two for the Road USA
Cathy D. and Bill Z.
July, 2010…Phoenix , Arizona
When Bill and I were invited to the All-New-Naughty Volvo event we were honored and intrigued. I was hoping I would see some male models with their shirts off demonstrating the Volvo S60. However, as we pulled in to Sanderson I realized it had nothing to do with my fantasies or Bills.
Bill and I visited with some of our favorite people over at Sanderson Volvo on After a very nice breakfast and chatting with Sanderson experts, press association journalists and executives from Volvo corporate, we went to the showroom floor to see just how naughty Volvo had become.
Much like the automotive days of old, the new Volvo was covered under a black satin drape waiting for the unveiling of a lifetime. We stood around the sleek silhouette, listening intently to the corporate voice of Volvo and then just like that, a tug at one corner of satin and the unveiling of the new S60 Volvo exploded. Three seconds past in silence and then you heard… WOW!
At first look, you are dazzled and a little confused. The S60 looked more like an Audi A4 than the safest car in the world? I guess that is why their advertising campaign shouts out “New Naughty Volvo” as opposed to “Same Old, Same Old Volvo”.
I sat inside the car; Bill checked the wheels and slid his hands along the sleek lines. I found the interior lush and ergonomics easy to “figure out”. Bill popped the hood and was lost in there for what seemed like an hour. There were some hidden treasures, that when pointed out, made you realize, this wasn’t your father’s Volvo.
The press was able to get a demonstration of the Standard City Safety with available Pedestrian Detection and Full Auto Brake. Now that was an experience. It wasn’t easy to let go of the brake, especially for Bill, as you approached a pedestrian (not a real one) and experienced the car coming to a complete stop. Don’t ask me how they do it; I just like the technology that did it.
There are so many other bells and whistles for the Naughty S60 ( which I like to say over and over again) like the standard 7-inch high resolution color LCD screen, driver control interface with steering wheel mounted thumbwheel and available lane departure system.
The car is filled with many more surprises as well as the standard features that have given Volvo the distinction of being the safest car ever made. We think it is safe to say that not only is Volvo the safest car on the planet, but the naughtiest.
Price about $36,300 and for more information go to www.volvocars.com
